Hamlet: Act 2 Scene 2 - Compare Hamlet's Reaction to Arrival of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and To the Players

Yin Choi

Compare Hamlet's reaction to the arrival of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with his reaction to the arrival of the Playyers. Account for his reactions.

By comparing Hamlet's reaction to the arrival of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with his reaction to the arrival of the Players, we can observe the different perspectives of Hamlet's character. His reaction to the arrival of his old friends is similar to his reaction to the arrival of the Players in as he is happy to see them all and he reveals his sanity to them all. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive, Hamlet is overjoyed to see his "excellent good friends" (2.2.227) with whom he grew up. Hamlet is also delighted to meet with the Players. But this is where all the similarities end. In his conversations with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet becomes suspicious of the purpose of his old friends' visit and he is perceptive enough to see through the outer disguise into the interior motives. He forces them to reveal that they have been sent by the King to find out what is causing Hamlet's "transformation" ( 2.2.5). Hamlet admits his sanity by telling his good friends that his "uncle- father and aunt mother are deceived." (2.2.348) Why does Hamlet admit his sanity to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Is it an another attempt to at deception, or is it to implant a sense of trust between Hamlet and his old friends? Hamlet could possibly be furthering his plans for revenge by admitting his sanity. Hamlet's friends would relay the message to the King and Claudius may think that Hamlet really is mad for admitting that he was supposedly feigning madness. On the other hand, at the conversation with the Players, his behavior is spontaneous. He welcomes his "good friends" (2.2.431) and it seems that he is "glad" (2.2.430) to see them again. He is friendly, funny and very open in his...

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fighting in his heart. But clearly his inner struggle has been manifested from
the time of his first appearance in this play. Now it is to hear no more
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plan and to execute it without delay. He has found man's wisdom, or reason, to
have its limitation: fortune, accident, chance - call it that what it will and
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He was able to find in the dark the commission for his own death; by chance, he
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...mini-essay
« Act2Scene2 seems all over the place ; it moves in contrary directions and lacks cohesion ; then at the end it all comes together, and everything which has gone before shows itself to be relevant » How far do you agree with this statement ?
Hamlet’sAct2Scene2 is, by far, the longest scene in the play as it provides a chaotic accumulation of events that mirrors Hamlet’s disintegrating mind, a stagnating plot before Hamlet’s soliloquy that allows the plot to evolve. This statement is backed up with the intervention of new characters, the occupation of space onstage, use of words, different consonants, alliteration and the length of the each situation.
The actors’ entrances and exits introduce new characters and allow the audience to distinguish one situation from another. As such, the scene can be cut into 5 parts: Polonius talking to King Claudius and Queen Gertrude; Hamlet’s conversation with Polonius; his reunion with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern; his meeting with the Players and his soliloquy. With the appearance of new characters like Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Voltimand, Cornelius and the Players, the stage seems more occupied and busy thus adding onto this chaotic ambience. Once Hamlet is alone onstage, the scene suddenly...

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•He acted very strange infront of Ophelia and it genuinely scared her, and because she loves him
and knows him sos well she knows something is really wrong.
"Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;/ No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,/
Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ankle;/Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each
other,/And with a look so piteous in purport/As if he had been loosed out of hell/To
speak of horrors, he comes before me" (II.i.87-94).
•He believes that he should've killed his uncle already and that the actor shouldn't possibly have
more feelings about this than him although that is what the actor's job is to do.
"A broken voice, and his whole function suiting/ With forms to his conceit? And all for
nothing!/ For Hecuba!/ What's Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba,/ That he should weep for
her? what would he do,/ Had he the motive and the cue for passion/ That I have? He
would drown in the stage with tears/ And cleave the general war with horrid
speech" (II.ii.554-561).
•He decides that adding scenes that depict his fathers death will make Claudius outwardly guilty
looking instead of just acting on it and killing Claudius, which if Hamlet wasn't mad, would be
able to do.
"With most miraculous organ, I'll have these players/ Play something like the muddy of
my father/ Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;/ I'll tent him of...

...﻿
« Act2Scene2 seems all over the place ; it moves in contrary directions and lacks cohesion ; then at the end it all comes together, and everything which has gone before shows itself to be relevant » How far do you agree with this statement ?
In my opinion, this statement is completely accurate. Hamlet’sAct2Scene2 is, by far, the longestscene in the play as it provides a chaotic accumulation of events that mirrors Hamlet’s disintegrating mind, a stagnating plot before Hamlet’s soliloquy that allows the plot to evolve. This statement is backed up with the intervention of new characters, the occupation of space onstage, use of words, different consonants, alliteration and the length of the each situation.
The actors’ entrances and exits introduce new characters and allow the audience to distinguish one situation from another. As such, the scene can be cut into 5 parts: Polonius talking to King Claudius and Queen Gertrude; Hamlet’s conversation with Polonius; his reunion with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern; his meeting with the Players and his soliloquy. With the appearance of new characters like Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Voltimand, Cornelius and the Players, the stage seems more occupied and busy thus adding to this chaotic ambience. Once Hamlet is alone...

...HAMLETACT 1, SCENE2
*
* Truent- to take an authorized leave
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* He very nimbly ducks the question We don’t get a direct response from Horatio.
* “do my ear that violence” Hamlet Sr died of poison in his ear as well. This idea of poison in the air- has a number of metaphorical connotations. The literal poisoning of the ear by Claudius. Also all the lies that Claudius is saying is poison to the ear. This ties in with the theme of APPEARANCE VS REALITY. Also as if Claudius has poisoned the nation (Denmark)
* Horatio perceives Hamlet’s discontent “My lord” reminding him of his status
* There is a somewhat passitivity to Horatio. “I came for your father’s funeral” He is trying to appear loyal and create alliance with Hamlet but Hamlet is suspicious and so he asks “I think it was to see my mother’s wedding” .
* Hamlet has to use his wits even to discern with his fellow scholars (Horatio) so that he can know what their motives are”
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